Police pepper spray rowdy shoe shoppers in Seattle

In a photo released by Nike Inc., the Air Jordan XI, released in 1996, is shown. This month, Nike releases the 23rd edition ... amid pepper spray in Seattle.

Associated Press

Police used pepper spray to break up fights among pushing and shoving customers waiting outside a Seattle area mall to buy the first Nike retro Air Jordan basketball shoes that went on sale early Friday.

Tukwila Officer Mike Murphy says about 20 people were sprayed in a group. One man was arrested for assault after police say he pushed an officer. No one was injured.

Murphy says more than 1,000 people lined up to buy shoes at 4 a.m. at four stores in the Westfield Southcenter mall. He says the stores sold out and all but about 50 people got their Air Jordans.

Hundreds of customers also lined up outside shoe stores in downtown Seattle and at a mall in Federal Way.

Across the country, at least four people were arrested at a suburban Atlanta mall after a crowd of customers broke down a door before a store selling the Air Jordans opened.